During this political moment, we have got to see a lot of political agitations and shows of patriotism by citizens in their quest to participate in a peaceful change of government in the upcoming general elections.
We have heard some priests telling their congregation that anyone that does not have his or her PVC will not be given the holy communion; I as well saw a video some time ago of a priest asking the congregation to present their PVCs before they can be given the holy communion in church; although I am yet to verify the authenticity and the source of that video.
Entertainers have been heard on numerous occasions, especially when they are organizing free concerts saying that the gate pass that attendees will be expected to present at the gate before they can be granted entry into the concert is their PVC; No PVC, No Entry.
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All these acts targeted to persuade citizens to acquire their voters’ cards are understandable and commendable but we should not use this as a medium to enforce illegality and promote harassment of individuals for the sake of the PVCs. There should be a limit to the joke.
This no PVC no entry started like a political joke which a lot of us commended but it is getting out of hand now. It has been taken to another level and has been taken too far.
My attention was recently drawn to a video of some people being denied access or entry to public places like markets because they could not provide or show their PVC at the gate. In that video, market men and women were denied access to the market shops and restricted from going about their daily business because they could not present their pvc at the gate.
Imagine doctors telling patients to present their pvc before they will be attended to, imagine supermarkets or restaurants asking patrons to present their pvc before they will be attended to, and imagine being denied entry into public transport because you do not have your pvc?
Where does it stop?
I am raising my voice against it now because Nigerians tend to take things too far and if everyone keeps quiet they will overdo it until it leads to chaos and disorderliness.
This new enforcement in some public areas and marketplaces that if you are not in possession of your pvc you will not be allowed to enter the public arena or open your shop is arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional and it needs to stop now, even if it is a joke. This is a joke taken too far.
As much as citizens are encouraged to go get their pvc so as to be able to exercise their civic rights, taking it extra by making it enforceable is unconstitutional. You dare not restrict citizens’ constitutional-provided fundamental human rights because of political exercise; the franchise itself is a fundamental human right which you are at liberty to choose to exercise or not to exercise. Not voting or choosing not to vote is not a crime nor is it illegal. Some religions like the Jehovah’s Witness prohibit their members from actively or invectively participating in electoral processes, so subjecting other people or enforcing them to join in the electoral charade is unconstitutional and therefore actionable.
Freedom of movement of citizens is constitutional and legal and restricting or denying citizens their rights of entry into a public place or their rights to go about their daily business or subjecting them to incessant harassment just because they do not have a pvc is illegal and it should be stopped.